| Anti-China side of GOP heartened 04/05/2001 By David Jackson / The Dallas Morning News WASHINGTON – The China imbroglio has revived one of the oldest rivalries in the Republican Party – between those who want to do business with and those who want to fight communism.
The longer China detains the pilots and crew of an American spy plane, analysts said, the better the anti-Communist conservatives' chances of dramatically altering Chinese-American relations, whether through arms sales to Taiwan or by blocking China's entry into the World Trade Organization.
"The Chinese are not helping make the case for improved relations right now," said Ed Gillespie, a Republican consultant who advised President Bush's campaign. "And the more conservative wing of the Republican Party will make that point in the months to come."
Some GOP conservatives called a news conference Wednesday to argue that the United States should consider revoking the normalization of trade relations with the Chinese. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., said the trade agreements are based on the idea that China is an "economic friend" or a "strategic partner."
"The events in the last week have shown us that China is not acting as an ally," Mr. Hunter said.
Even before the spy standoff, critics of China protested the arrests of American citizens on spying charges. They have also attacked Chinese technological assistance to Iraq and protested Beijing's bid to host the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., said Americans should avoid visiting China during the crisis, including members of Congress with scheduled trips.
"Until our 24 military personnel are returned, they should be considered as hostages being held by a hostile power," Mr. Rohrabacher said.
But even Republicans who have been longtime critics of China have backed President Bush's handling of the standoff. White House press secretary Ari Fleischer said Republican Party differences will not influence the president's course of events.
"The president's focus ... is on the most productive way to get our men and women home," Mr. Fleischer said. "And he is determined to get that done."
He added that both Republican and Democrats are publicly supporting Mr. Bush.
Republicans who say the incident should not scuttle attempts to expand trade with China argue that it will help both the American and Chinese economies.
"They've got something to lose if they do something stupid," said Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Dallas. "They've got to do what's in their own best interest."
Pro-business Republicans say increased trade would put China on the path toward political freedom.
"You cannot have economic freedom without political freedom following shortly thereafter," said Mr. Gillespie, a former aide to House Majority Leader Dick Armey of Flower Mound. "The former Soviet Union is a perfect example of that."
Continued friction over the American flight crew would endanger the economic progress made in China, some Republicans said.
Mr. Bush suggested as much this week by saying, "This accident has the potential of undermining our hopes for a fruitful and productive relationship between our two countries."
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, said the world is watching to see how Chinese officials handle this situation.
"We have been trying to welcome China into the community of nations," Ms. Hutchison said. "We are trying to establish trade relationships with them. They must conduct themselves according to international law."
China's current American critics are descendants of the legendary China Lobby, conservative members of Congress who pushed U.S. aid to Chinese leader Chiang Ka-shek before his government fell in 1949 to communists led by Mao Tse Tung.
Similar disputes over dollars-versus-ideology underscored the battle between the United States and the Soviet Union, and continues to influence American policy towards Cuba.
Many have warned that, with the fall of communism in Eastern Europe, the American-Chinese rivalry could form the basis of a new Cold War.
In its latest edition, printed before the spy plane incident, the conservative magazine The Weekly Standard protested the Chinese arrests of American scholars accused of spying.
"Surely the time has come for the United States, its government and its people, to get angry – very angry," said an editorial.
Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill., chairman of the House Committee on International Relations, said he's unsure exactly how the latest incident will affect American-Chinese trade.
"It depends on how this current situation works out," Mr. Hyde said.
Sam Stratman, a spokesman for Mr. Hyde, said Republicans have always argued about China policy and probably always will. He said the biggest risk is not to Republicans but to the Chinese.
"They're blundering their way into a real problem – on Taiwan arms sales, on their entry into the World Trade Organization, on permanent trade relations," Mr. Stratman said.
James Lilley, ambassador to China under Mr. Bush's father, said anti-Chinese statements come from both the political right and political left in the Republican and Democratic parties. But that background noise from Capital Hill should not affect what he called "a professional problem being handled by experienced people."
"This is between the United States and China," Mr. Lilley said. "The Hill is a factor, but much more important is the whole defense arrangement in Asia. ... You better handle it with a cool head."
Staff writer Christopher Lee contributed to this report.
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